Lifetime Earnings

Standing

Forrest and Kim Saunders are relative newcomers to the Cutting and Campdraft arenas, but since becoming involved 12 years ago they have watched, listened and learnt alot. They now own a very successful team of horses and have experienced the true highs of both industries as owners, with Little Rey of Hope winning the NCHA open Futurity in 2012.

After first being introduced to cutting by a friend they thought it was something they should have a go at. Forrest wasn’t a rider but he encouraged Kim to try the sport. Kim started learning and competing and Forrest followed, learning to ride and then after attending several Ian Francis clinics he started in Snafflebit competitions and then One Handed.

However it is as owners where they truly lead by example. They have always wanted Hi-end Open Cutting horses so they have watched horses working and studied breeding, always looking to chase better horses.

With quality horses already in their team they decided to add a world class stallion to the stable. This was a task that was never going to be a quick process because the brief included top class cutting genetics, impeccable type and temperament and a horse that was versatile to come back to Australia and compete in the campdrafting arena after he finished his cutting career.

Several agents were commissioned in the US to find this special horse and two years later after several false starts where people were simply trying to make the deal rather than source an exceptional animal, Hayden Upton came up with the right horse for the Saunders.

Proud Lil Pepto was by the 1995 NCHA Champion Peptoboonsmal and from the Smart Little Lena daughter, Little Proud Mary who was an NCHA Open Finalist herself. This cross had also been very successful in reining Cow Horse events in the States so the genetics were there to transfer to the campdraft industry in Australia. He was exceptional in all areas and Hayden bought him as a 2.y.o for Forrest and Kim.He then stayed in America where Hayden prepared him for the 2011 US NCHA Futurity. He was the first Futurity horse Hayden had trained since moving to the US, so the young duo entered the Futurity as relative unknowns. In the GR1 they finished 2nd which was an amazing feat for a Rookie trainer. They continued on to qualify for the Semi Final and finished 3rd in the Limited Open.

After two successful seasons in the US which included winning the 4.y.o Breeders Invitational and finalling in the Bonanza Open Derby the decision to bring him back to Australia was made. He was sent to Dean Holden and he had more success winning the Q14 Senior Cutting Horse of the Year and was a regular Classic Finalist at the Australian Futurities.

Campdrafting was Proud Lil Peptos next challenge and he changed stables to Warwick Lawrence where he has achieved a great deal in a very short time frame. He started drafting at Upper Horton in July 2015 and five draft later he was an Open Horse having placed in the Stallion Draft at Paradise and won a Novice before winning his Open at Singleton. Few drafts followed because they were continually washed out in 2016 and cancelled in 2017 due to drought.

Warwick rates Proud Lil Pepto very highly, he knew he was a great cutter, but he can’t believe his achievements after so few starts. He’s a natural who can cut a circle, hold his ground and does so at speed. Warwick has been taking it steady with him because he sees him as a long term horse.

Breeding their top mares to him last season, Warwick and Fiona have complete faith in him.

The full story of this exceptional colt is covered in his promotional video.

2015

ABCRA RUNNER UP MAIDEN HORSE OF THE YEAR 2015
ABCRA Eastern Zone MAIDEN HORSE FOR 2015/2016(with only 4 months of drafting)

PARADISE LAGOONS: Stallion Draft: = 9/10

HUNTER VALLEY CAMPDRAFT:

Maiden Draft: cutout – 1st

Novice Draft: cutout – 1st

SCONE CAMPDRAFT:

Maiden Draft: Rd 1 – = 1st | Final – 2nd

Novice Draft: Rd 1 – = 1st / Final – = 2/3

Juvenile – = 4/5 with Jack Lawrence

GRESFORD RODEO: Novice Draft: 1st

GEURIE: Open – 2nd

SINGLETON:

Open – 1st (89) | Open cutout – 1st (23)

Novice – 2nd (89)

TIMOR: Novice cutout – 1st

MERRIWA: Novice cutout – 1st

WINGHAM:

Open – 1st (91,91) | Open cutout – 1st (23)

Open for Open cutout – 1st (24)

ELLERSTON – Open – 5th

ABERDEEN CAMPDRAFT: Open Draft Cutout – 1st

Cutting in Australia

Trained/Shown by Dean Holden

2014

Open Classic Challenge Finalist at:

NCHA Futurity

Comet Futurity

CCCC Futurity Goondiwindi

NCHA Victorian Futurity

AQHA Q14 Senior Horse Champion

Cutting in the USA

Trained/Shown by Haydon Upton, Weatherford, Texas

2013

The Cattlemen’s Limited Open Classic Champion

2012

Breeders Invitational Open Derby Finalist

The Cattlemen’s Limited Open Derby – 4th

Bonanza Open Derby Finalist

2011

NCHA Open Futurity Semi-Finalist

NCHA John Deere Limited Open Futurity – 3rd

Progeny

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The first crop of Proud Lil Pepto progeny are still very young, but sold very well at the 2017 Landmark Classic Select Horse Sale.

Lot 583 – 2 yo mare AMAROO FANCY CRUSE – Sold for $20,000

GB Bubba Gump

Sold Landmark 2017.

Proud Lil Bo Duke

Owned by Lisa Tietz & Ed Smith.

2018

Pacific Coast Reining Spectacular, Gatton. Ridden by Kayla Kington

Limited Open Futurity Champion

Intermediate Open Futurity – 3rd

Whole Lotta Rosie

2018

Proud Lil Pepto progeny are proving to be infinitely trainable. This filly, Whole Lotta Rosie, was only started by Adam Wrobel 28 days prior to videoing and she displays the common traits passed on from her sire. She has an easy nature, is well balanced, is super athletic & she has a great mind.

Proud Lil Pepto progeny are proving to be infinitely trainable. This filly, Whole Lotta Rosie, was only started by Adam Wrobel 28 days prior to videoing and she displays the common traits passed on from her sire. She has an easy nature, is well balanced, is super athletic & she has a great mind.WWW.SELECTSIRES.COM.AU/STALLION/PROUD-LIL-PEPTOForrest Saunders

One Time Pepto is Peptoboonsmal’s second-leading single-season money-earner, with $264,145 banked in 2005. One Time Pepto, Little Pepto Gal and many other offspring are influential sires and dams in their own right.

Paternal Grand Sire: Peppy San Badger

NCHA Hall of Fame. NCHA Open Futurity Champion (USA) and NCHA Open Derby Champion (USA). An All Time Leading Cutting Sire, and an NRHA & NRCHA All Time Leading Sire, siring earners of over $25 Million; including LITTLE BADGER DULCE (NCHA Horse of the Year, NCHA Open Reserve World Champion, NCHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion).

[View video of Peppy San Badger]
– There are great images at the beginning and the end, as well as footage of Peppy San Badger in action. Italian translation would be welcomed.